Stocking and shoe protector



Feb. 4, 1941. E. A. JOHST STOCKING AND SHOE PROTECTOR Filed April 28, 1939 EUGENE A. JOHST INVENTOR.

BY 9 w P. Mama ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STOCKING AND SHOE PROTECTOR Eugene A. Johst, New York, N. Y.

Application April 28, 1939, Serial No. 270,506

2 Claims. (Cl. 36-2) My invention relates to protectors for stockings and shoes and has particular reference to protectors of a type known as leggings or gaiters.

My invention has for its object to provide protectors made of a very thin and light material, preferably waterproof and transparent, which can be folded into a small package for carrying in an overcoat pocket or in a handbag, and which can be easily and quickly placed over a shoe and i0 stocking, my device being particularly useful for the protection of women's shoes and stockings against rain, dust, snow, etc. Another object of my invention is to provide a stocking protector simply and economically made in the form of a tube made of an approximately rectangular piece of material and permanently joined together at the longitudinal seam, having an extension at the lower end for covering the toe portion of a shoe and further having an elastic strip at the bottom for engaging the sole of the shoe.

My invention is more fully described in the accompanying specification and drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of my protector placed over a woman's leg.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a view of a flat piece of material used in making my protector.

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified protector.

Fig. 6 is a view of a fiat piece of material used in making a protector as shown in Fig. 5.

My protector consists of a straight tube i of 5 approximately uniform diameter throughout its length adapted to fit over the calf of a stockinged leg 2 and made of an approximately rectangular piece of material 3 (Fig. 4) by permanently sewing together its longitudinal edges at 4,. Fig. 2.

A suitable material for this purpose is a light transparent fabric like rubberized or oil silk, or such flexible synthetic materials as Cellophane," Plioiilm," etc. The corners of the piece 3 are cut on a bias at 5, Fig. 4', thereby forming a triangular opening at the front to which a toe cover 6 is attached. The latter extends over the toe of a shoe I. A sole piece 8' is attached to the front end of the toe cover 6 and forms a pocket for the toe of the shoe. The sole piece 8 may be made of the same material as the tube l or cover 8, but in order to make it more durable it can be also made of leather, rubber or similar wear-resisting materials. An elastic strap 0 is attached to the edges of the cover 6 or tube and engages the under side of the sole of the shoe 1. An elastic strap II is attached to the upper end of the tube l and tends to draw the edges together as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, thereby retaining the upper end of the tube on the wearer's leg.

A modified construction is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The piece of material II is made with integrally formed extensions l2 and is sewed or 5 otherwise fastened together at the front edges (a seam i3 is shown in Fig. 5). The cylindrical shape of the tube I or H facilitates insertion of the wearer's leg intothe protector. The lower portion of the tube is cut away at H in order A" to raise the heel portion above the the portion. Additional elastic straps l5 and It may be pro vided for holding the front extension I2 against the shoe. These straps may be provided with buttons or strap fasteners, if desired. A sole l1 15 may be also provided, forming a pocket for the toe of the shoe. The sole and the straps l5 and I6 may be dispensed with, especially if the protector is intended to be used with ordinary overshoes or galoshes, particularly of a type covering 20 the 'toe only.

It is understood that my protector for stockings and shoes may be further modified without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims. 26

I claim as my invention:

1. A legging made of a thin, waterproof, transparent, inelastic, foldable material formed into a relatively long non-separable tube of a substantially uniform diameter from the top to the bot- 80 tom, open at both ends and having a substantially straight upper edge, an elastic band at the upper edge for securing the edge to the wearer's calf under the knee by gathering said material into a plurality of folds, the lower end of the tube 85 having a front integral extension for covering the toe portion of the wearer's shoe, and a strap at the bottom joining the lower edges of the tube, the elastic band being the sole supporting means for the legging, the legging being thereby adapted 40 to retain its cylindrical shape when in use.

2. A leg made of a thin, waterproof, durable. inelastic foldable material formed into a relatively long non-separable tube of a substantially uniform diameter from the top to the bot- 45 tom. open at both ends and having a substantially straight upper edge, an elastic band at the upper edge for securing the edge to the wearer's calf under the knee by gathering said material into a plurality of folds, the lower end of the tube having a front integral extension for covering the toe portion of the wearer's shoe, and a strap at the bottom joining the lower edges of the tube, the elastic band being the sole supporting means for the legging. the legging being thereby adapted to retain its cylindrical shape when in use. I

EUGENE A. JOHST. 

